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mdehnersI came to the Realisation recently that I'm not a bad Heathen. I'm just not the same Heathen anymore...and that's OK.
The stuff we try to ignore sometimes becomes too obvious. A couple of them in Modern Heathenry are the Influences of Wicca(and Her Bastard Children)and Christianity. Esp in the Folkish community, our culture really is pretty much Christian Protestantism with a Nordic Overcoat. I don't know how many times I've gotten into arguemnts over the yrs pointing out the Heathen Ancestors didn't follow Eisenhower-era "norms". the 650s weren't the same as the 1950's, with the housewife wearing Amber instead of Pearls. I Understand though. Many folks Follow Folkism because they Beleive in "Traditional Values" and that's what the Ancestors Practiced. Right?
And then there is the Wiccan influence. The biggest one is one that is generally ignored....that of Universal Clergihood. The Lore is pretty clear that the Ancestors had definite Priests/Priestesses and most of the population wasn't. Not every member of the Folk WAS also Clergy, yet this is pretty much accepted in most kindreds, in spirit if not practice.
The reason I had felt that I was a bad Heathen was that I wasn't keeping up with the Ritual Practices. For most of my Heathen Life my life was quite organised. A calendar of Rites, Holy-Days, Rememberances, Devotionals, etc. At it's high point, between 4-6 hrs a day. Then a couple yrs ago I began to find just talking to and listening to the Regin more Satisfying than Blots or Sumbels. An informal Sharing of Drink and Food had more Meaning than the full "Bells & Smells". So, I was a Bad Heathen.
I finally realised that I was no longer a "religious" Heathen. I'm not Clerically-oriented and that's wierd coming form somemone whose considered themselves such since the 70's. I'm just a Retiree working the Land to help feed his family and for my enjoyment. I talk to the Landvaettr and Regin as They drop by but seldom formally Blot or SUmbel. In a way I Feel that I'm probably more like my Heathen Ancestors now then I was before....
Truth,
Patrick Thomas Duffy
The stuff we try to ignore sometimes becomes too obvious. A couple of them in Modern Heathenry are the Influences of Wicca(and Her Bastard Children)and Christianity. Esp in the Folkish community, our culture really is pretty much Christian Protestantism with a Nordic Overcoat. I don't know how many times I've gotten into arguemnts over the yrs pointing out the Heathen Ancestors didn't follow Eisenhower-era "norms". the 650s weren't the same as the 1950's, with the housewife wearing Amber instead of Pearls. I Understand though. Many folks Follow Folkism because they Beleive in "Traditional Values" and that's what the Ancestors Practiced. Right?
And then there is the Wiccan influence. The biggest one is one that is generally ignored....that of Universal Clergihood. The Lore is pretty clear that the Ancestors had definite Priests/Priestesses and most of the population wasn't. Not every member of the Folk WAS also Clergy, yet this is pretty much accepted in most kindreds, in spirit if not practice.
The reason I had felt that I was a bad Heathen was that I wasn't keeping up with the Ritual Practices. For most of my Heathen Life my life was quite organised. A calendar of Rites, Holy-Days, Rememberances, Devotionals, etc. At it's high point, between 4-6 hrs a day. Then a couple yrs ago I began to find just talking to and listening to the Regin more Satisfying than Blots or Sumbels. An informal Sharing of Drink and Food had more Meaning than the full "Bells & Smells". So, I was a Bad Heathen.
I finally realised that I was no longer a "religious" Heathen. I'm not Clerically-oriented and that's wierd coming form somemone whose considered themselves such since the 70's. I'm just a Retiree working the Land to help feed his family and for my enjoyment. I talk to the Landvaettr and Regin as They drop by but seldom formally Blot or SUmbel. In a way I Feel that I'm probably more like my Heathen Ancestors now then I was before....
Truth,
Patrick Thomas Duffy
no subject
Date: 2009-12-16 12:52 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-12-16 12:48 pm (UTC)The other stuff are general pet peeves of mine about Modern Heathenry in general. You can get most folks to admit that the Hammer Rite and the Eight Holy Days are borrowings from Wicca & Family but so are the Universal Priesthood and the obsession with When We Take Over The World. What I mean by the later is the obsession that even the smallest group(not even a hearth) will be writing and planning Rites for more folks than show up at their local church. Back in my CR days I used to get into arguements with Issac Bonewitz. To me, you write, plan and nurture "them's that brung yah", not some Pipe Dream.
I think that's one of the reasons why Modern Paganism is doing well. You check out the Occult or New Age sections and there are plenty of books oriented toward the individual or small group. Heathens" We start with a regional noble's Feasting Hall and work from there when the Truth is that more of the Ancestor's Spiritual life was at home with family than at the local hof, which may have been a day's travel(or more...)....
Cheers,
Pat